Bengaluru: In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, the CID Cyber Crime Police of Bengaluru successfully apprehended five individuals involved in an elaborate scam that defrauded a coffee grower from Kodagu of Rs 2.2 crore. The operation has brought to light the growing menace of cyber fraud and the sophisticated techniques employed by cybercriminals.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Mohammad Shakhab, Mohammad Ayan, Ahsan Ansari, Solomon Raja, all residents of Bangalore, and Yousaf Seth, a native of Dubai. During the operation, the police seized Rs 1.77 crore in cash, 7,700 US dollars (equivalent to approximately Rs 6.25 lakh), and a newly purchased Mercedes-Benz car, which had been bought using the ill-gotten gains. The Director General of Police, CID, Dr. MA Saleem, who led the investigation, disclosed Organiser that the Mercedes-Benz was valued between Rs 28-30 lakh. Remarkably, the authorities have been able to recover most of the stolen funds, though efforts continue to trace the remaining amount.
Dr Saleem also revealed that Yousaf Seth had fled to Dubai with a portion of the fraudulent money but was eventually caught with the assistance of his accomplices, highlighting the international dimensions of the cybercrime ring.
The elaborate scam began in May this year when the accused contacted the Kodagu-based coffee grower, pretending to be representatives from FedEx, an international courier service. They falsely informed the victim that a parcel addressed to him contained MDMA, a controlled narcotic substance, and that it had been seized by narcotics officers. The scammers then directed the victim to communicate with a senior officer from the Narcotics Crime Department via WhatsApp.
In a subsequent WhatsApp call, the fraudsters, posing as high-ranking police officials, threatened the victim with severe legal consequences unless he paid a settlement fee to resolve the fictitious case. Fearing legal trouble, the victim transferred Rs 2.21 crore from his bank account to various accounts provided by the scammers through the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system. However, the fraudsters’ greed led them to contact the victim again, demanding more money under the same pretext.
This repeated demand for money aroused the victim’s suspicions, prompting him to file a complaint with the Kodagu Cyber Police Station. The case was swiftly transferred to the CID Cyber Crime Wing for a more thorough investigation.
The CID Cyber Crime team, upon receiving the case, meticulously traced the accounts where the defrauded money had been transferred. Their efforts culminated in the successful arrest of the five accused individuals. During the investigation, it was uncovered that the main culprits had a history of similar scams and had turned cyber fraud into a full-time criminal enterprise. The stolen funds were found to have been distributed across 26 different Indian bank accounts, further complicating the investigation.
The CID police have also discovered that the cybercrime ring likely involves additional accomplices, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects. A trap has been set, and the authorities are optimistic about bringing the entire network to justice.
This case is a stark reminder of the evolving tactics used by cybercriminals. The fraudsters employed new strategies, including impersonating police officers via WhatsApp video calls, to instill fear in their victims and coerce them into transferring large sums of money. These scammers went to great lengths to create convincing scenarios, even setting up fake government offices, police stations, and lock-ups in their fraudulent schemes. They would show these fake settings during video calls to deceive victims into believing they were interacting with legitimate authorities.
One of the key tactics used by the fraudsters was the concept of a “digital arrest,” where they convinced the victim that they were under arrest, preventing them from contacting anyone else during the scam. This isolation was crucial in ensuring the victim complied with their demands without seeking external advice or verification.
Speaking to Organiser Dr. MA Saleem, emphasised the importance of public awareness in combating such cyber frauds. He pointed out that legitimate police officers do not make video calls from police stations, do not demand money transfers, and typically use landline phones for official communication. By being vigilant and skeptical of suspicious calls, the public can play a crucial role in exposing and thwarting such scams before they result in financial loss.
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